Tamper proof tablet dispenser



Dec. 6, 1966 J. W. VILLAVECES TAMPER PROOF TABLET DISPENSER Filed Aug.10, 1964 FIG INVENTOR.

James 14 Vidal/666s.

United States Patent 3,289,885 TAMPER PROOF TABLET DISPENSER James W.Viliaveces, 1532 Prospect, San Gabriel, Calif. Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser.No. 388,527 1 Claim. (Cl. 221288) This invention relates to tabletdispensers and, more particularly, to a tamper proof tablet dis-penserfor dispensing individual pills or tablets which Wlll prevent accessthereto by children and infants.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe, tamper proofand tablet dispenser which requires considerable manual dexterity forthe removal of the contents, thus providing a safe and effectivecontainer for storing drugs and medicines in the presence of childrenwhich lack the dexterity required to remove the'contents therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attractive andconvenient pill and tablet dispenser which will effectively dispensesingle tablets whenever required, but which requires a predeterminedmethod of operation and dexterity beyond the skills of young childrenand infants, whereby such can be safely stored in the piesenoe ofchildren.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tamper proof tablet dispenser made inaccordance with one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of still another form of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 66 ofFIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a left end elevational view of the embodiment ilustrated inFIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l and 2thereof, a tamper proof tablet dispenser 10 made in accordance with oneform of the present invention is shown to include a main housing 12having an interior tablet storage compartment 13 at the lower endthereof and an upwardly protruding neck 14 at the opposite upper end,upon which a closure cap 16 is normally threaded ly supported.Intermediate the storage compartment 13 and the outlet neck 14, is alaterally extending bafile plate 18 in spaced proximity with an upperbaflie plate 29 and defining a narrow passageway 22 therebetween,through which a single/tablet is receivable. The upwardly inclinedbaffie plate 24) defines a narrow space 24 with one side of the neck 14for receiving the tablet further upwardly into the upper compartment 26in the neck 14.

It will thus be recognized that upon inverting the main housing 12, asingle tablet can be manipulated through the spaces 22, 24 defined bythe baffles 18, 20, to place a single tab-let within the dischargeportion of the neck 14, so that upon removal of the closure cap 16, thesingle tablet may be conveniently removed. However, because of themanual dexterity required to manipulate the tablet through the baffiearrangement, such is beyond the usual skills of young children.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawing, a slightly modifiedform of construction 36 is shown to include a main housing 32 having aninterior tablet storage compartment 33 at the lower end and a closurewall 34 at the opposite upper end. A closure 36 is rotatably mountedupon the closure wall 34 by means of a self contained pivot structure38. The closure 36 includes an aperture 40 which is rotatable intocommunication with similar aperture 42 in the closure wall 34, throughwhich a single tablet may be removed. Intermediate the dischargeaperture 42 and the tablet storage portion 33, the main housing 32 isprovided with a pair of oppositely extending baflle plates 48, 50. Theupper bafile plate 48 defines an upper compartment 44 into which asingle tablet is receivable through a restricted opening 46 formedbetween the end of the baffle plate 48 and the side wall of the mainhousing 32. In spaced relation ship beneath the upper baffie plate 48, alower baffle plate 50 defines a restricted passageway 52 with anopposite side of the main housing 32.

It will thus be recognized that a single tab-let may be convenientlydispensed from this dispenser 30 by inverting the main housing andmanipulating a single tablet through the restricted passageways 52, 46into the upper compartment 44, upon which rotation of the closure member36 to align the aperture 40 thereof with the discharge aperture 42 inthe closure wall 34 will permit convenient removal of the tablet.

In FIGURES 5 to 7 of the drawing, a further embodiment 60 of the presentinvention is shown to include a main housing 62 having a lower tabletstorage compartment 63 and an upper discharge aperture 64. A combinationbafiie member and closure device in the form of a V-shaped valve member66 is pivotally supported within the interior of the main housing 62upon .pintles 68. The innermost portion of the valve member 66 includesa leg 70 having a marginal flange 71 defining a tray 72 for receiving asingle tablet 74. The edge of the flange 31 defines a restrictedpassageway with the upper wall of the main housing 62, allowing only asingle tablet 74 into the tray 72. The other leg of the valve member 66includes an enlarged closure member 76 that normally overlies and sealsthe discharge aperture 64 of the main housing. However, by pullingoutwardly upon the tab 76 after a tablet has been positioned in the tray72, the outlet aperture 64 may be opened to permit discharge of thetablet 72 therethrough. In this embodiment, a considerable amount ofmanual dexterity is also required to first position a single tabletwithin the tray 72, 'and then to open the valve member 66 to allow thedischarge of the tablets 74- through the outlet opening 64.

It will thus be recognized that in all embodiments of the presentinvention, at least several manual movements are required to firstposition and then discharge the tablets through the respective baflieand discharge means, and that such dexterity is normally beyond that ofsmall children and infants. In each embodiment, the main housing ispreferably constructed of a molded plastic material, which will absorbhigh impact, thus preventing breakage or forced opening thereof by suchchildren. Of course, the size and external shape of the main housing maybe varied to suit convenience and purpose, and the size of therespective portions varied to accommodate tablets and pills of ditferentsizes and shapes.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

A tamper proof tablet dispenser comprising a hollow medicine bottlehaving a main bottom housing, a vertical upper hollow neck open at itsthroat, shoulder means connecting said housing to said neck, said neckand h-ousing being integral, a cap detachably securable to the throat ofsaid neck for detachably sealing same, a first horizontal bafile platein the top of said housing and sealing a major portion of said housingfrom said neck while leaving a small first horizontal opening throughwhich a pill positioned in said housing can fall toward said neck whensaid dispenser is inverted, and a second upwardly inclined baffie plateinserted in the bottom of said neck and extending over said firstopening, said second plate sealing a major portion of said neck whileleaving a small second horizontal opening above said first plate, saidsecond plate being vertically separated from the first plate andpositioned thereabove, said second opening permitting said pill to falltherethrough after falling through said first opening and guided by saidsecond plate to said second opening when said dispenser is inverted.

References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT B.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1929 Smith 2223 64 X 10/ 1935 Garfein 222-3645/1938 Smith 221288 12/1941 Roemmele 221288 6/1949 Williamson 221269 X3/1952 Rhodes 222364 X 12/1955 Galli 222-456 5/ 1959 Sinclair 22 FOREIGNPATENTS 2/ 1947 France. 4/ 1950 France. 4/ 1920 Great Britain.

REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner.

